Improvement in marine safes



G. F. ABRAHAM.

Marine Safes.

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PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. ABRAHAM, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND DANIEL OLARIDGE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MARINE SAFES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,832, dated May 13,' 1873; application iiled March 12, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. ABRAHAM, of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Marine Post Oflice Safe and Life- Preserver, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

The invention consists in a marine safe or life-buoy, formed as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

Figure l is a vertical central section. 2 is a top view, partly broken out.

In the drawing, A represents a hollow vessel, made in a form singly or doubly conical. It is formed of a sheet of copper or other noncorrosive metal, B, on the outside, and two inner iron sheets, O D, placed at suitable distances apart. The intermediate space between the iron sheets is filled with cork or other light material, which gives lightness and buoyancy in proportion to bulk, while the space between the copper and iron is filled with a backing of rubber toY take up the shock of collision with a part of the vessel or any hard substance. The latter prevents fracture, and consequently serious injury from ordinary obstacles; but still further to provide against mischances of a serious character, I propose to make the safe and life-preserver in sections, so that if one section is stove in, or seriously breached by any cause, the rest of the apparatus will retain its integrity and normal strength. E is a bell, placed at the bow or frontv of the preserver, and liable to be continuously rung by the rocking motion of the waves.- F is a flag,-y which may be placed within convenient reach of the person who has the preserver in charge,

Fig.

and who occupies a position in front. With this he can always hope to attract the attention of passing ships. -G Gare lockers, one of which may be utilized to keep a store of provisions, in case of shipwreck, while the other will contain a suitable quantity of water. To the side of and around the preserver are attached rings H and ropes, which allow many persons, who may be thrown out into the water, to sustain themselves until succor is eX- tended from some source. J is a rope, connecting with a ladder, K, attached tothe preserver, whereby the person who is in charge can always make his way thereunto it' he should not be in convenient proximity at the time of any accident. L is the hole or apartment in which are stored the letters, papers, or other valuables. By this device these things will always be kept intact, and subsequently reach the owner or his representative, while now it often occurs that the mariner or passenger escapes with his life, but is thrown upon the world without resources and in absolute poverty. The side rings and ropes will oftentimes save individual lives.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A marine safe or life-buoy, formed of metallic sheets D O, spaced with cork or other light material to render it buoyant, in combination with the copper or other non-corrosive sheet B, backed with rubber or other elastic substance, and provided with apartments for the reception of valuables, substantially as and for the purpose described.

GEORGE F. ABRAHAM.

Witnesses:

T. M. ROBIEs, GEO. S. HARTZOG.. 

